Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Opens Big 12 Play Against K-State, KU
September 21, 2017 | Women's Soccer
The Red Raiders will face the Wildcats on Friday, Sept. 22, followed by the Jayhawks on Sunday, Sept. 24.
LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Tech soccer team embarks on the start of its Big 12 slate this weekend, hosting Kansas State on Friday, Sept. 22, followed by Kansas on Sunday, Sept. 24, at the John Walker Soccer Complex.
The Red Raiders (7-2-0) take on the Wildcats (5-3-1) on Friday at 7 p.m., then wrap the home stand against the Jayhawks (5-4-1) on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. As always, both contests will be streamed live online at TexasTech.TV, with live stats available via TexasTech.Statbroadcast.com.
"Every win counts," head coach Tom Stone said. "We're 7-2, which isn't as great as 9-0, but it's what we have right now. We're excited about what we've learned in the wins and in the couple losses that we took. It's made us a better team. The Big 12 is on us now, we can't put it off any longer and ready or not, it starts Friday."
When the Red Raiders and Wildcats take the field on Friday, they'll be making history, as it'll mark the first conference matchup for K-State in the program's short career on the pitch. However, Sunday will mark the 25th meeting between Tech and the Jayhawks. Kansas holds a slight edge in the all-time series, but the Red Raiders have won six of the last seven matchups dating back to 2012.
The lone smudge in that streak came last season, when Tech dropped a 2-1 decision in Lawrence after surrendering a pair of penalty kicks in the first conference match of the year. Since 2012, the Red Raiders have posted five clean sheets in seven meetings with the Jayhawks, outscoring Kansas 10-3 over that stretch.
This weekend completes a four-match home stand for the Red Raiders, as Tech looks to continue its hot streak inside the confines of the John Walker Soccer Complex. In three matches in Lubbock this season, the Red Raiders have outscored their opponents, 8-0, for a 3-0-0 start to the home slate.
The most recent additions to that record came in a 1-0 victory over San Diego State on Sept. 15, followed by a 3-0 rout of Cal State-Northridge on Sept. 18, after a weather delay pushed the match from Sunday night to a Monday morning matinee. All four goals came from four different Red Raider scoring threats, as freshman forward Kirsten Davis recorded the lone tally against the Aztecs to begin the weekend. Fellow freshman forward Ally Griffin, sophomore midfielder Savanna Jones and sophomore forward Jade King found the back of the net against the Matadors to complete the perfect weekend at the Walker.
Tech's results improved the combined overall against the two programs to 5-0-0. It also put the Red Raiders at 7-2-0 through non-conference action, as Tech gets the opportunity to focus solely on the top RPI conference from 2016 over the next six weeks.
Last year, the Red Raiders put together a 2-6-0 record in league action, putting up wins against Iowa State (3-0) in the opening weekend and Oklahoma (1-0 – 2OT) to wrap the regular season. The final victory over OU helped catapult Tech into its fifth-straight NCAA Tournament bid. In each of the last five years, the Red Raiders secured at least seven non-conference wins for its resume, a figure Tech hit to make it six in-a-row with the win over Cal State-Northridge on Monday.
K-State enters Friday's matchup with nine different Wildcats registered with at least one goal this season. Brookelynn Entz leads the way for KSU with three goals and one assist in 2017, while Hannah Davis has served up four assists for the Wildcats. In between the pipes, Miranda Larkin has picked up 42 saves and allowed nine goals in nine matches for a 0.97 goals against average. She has also been a part of four clean sheets so far in 2017.
"This has to be the best first-year team ever assembled," Stone said on K-State. "First-year teams just get crushed in conference play for the most part and these girls aren't going to get crushed by anyone. The coaching staff has done a great job of turning some diamonds in the rough into players that are making it happen for them. They went out and got some players that a lot of people really wanted and got them to buy into their program.
"We know what that feels like. Ten years ago, that's what we were selling. They've been impressive and have some decent results, they're in every game and watching them on tape, they do not look like a first-year team. We know how tough it's going to be and we know we have to be ready."
The Jayhawks open the weekend having scored as many goals as they've given up at 15. Grace Hagan paces the squad on offense with five goals and three assists, while Sophie Maierhofer and Katie McClure both have posted multiple tallies this season at three and two each, respectively. Maddie Dobyns has started all 10 matches for Kansas, allowing 12 goals combined with 42 saves for a 1.23 GAA. They'll face TCU on Friday before heading to Lubbock.
Ally Griffin and Kirsten Davis have traded off the team-lead in goals this year, with Griffin holding the top spot heading into the match against the Wildcats at four goals. Davis sits at three tallies, while Jones has two, as Tech has totaled 13 goals this year. On the flip side, the Red Raider defense has been stellar this season, allowing just five goals as a veteran backline and strong goalkeeper play have produced six shutout victories in nine contests. Junior Carissa Christensen has put down 13 saves and a 4-1 record, while freshman Marissa Zucchetto has eight saves and a 3-1 mark, combining for a 0.55 goals against average.
The Red Raiders go back on the road after this weekend's matchup, squaring off with Texas in Austin on Sept. 29, at 7 p.m., on LHN. Tech will then return home to face TCU on Sunday, Oct. 1, at 1 p.m.
The Red Raiders (7-2-0) take on the Wildcats (5-3-1) on Friday at 7 p.m., then wrap the home stand against the Jayhawks (5-4-1) on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. As always, both contests will be streamed live online at TexasTech.TV, with live stats available via TexasTech.Statbroadcast.com.
"Every win counts," head coach Tom Stone said. "We're 7-2, which isn't as great as 9-0, but it's what we have right now. We're excited about what we've learned in the wins and in the couple losses that we took. It's made us a better team. The Big 12 is on us now, we can't put it off any longer and ready or not, it starts Friday."
When the Red Raiders and Wildcats take the field on Friday, they'll be making history, as it'll mark the first conference matchup for K-State in the program's short career on the pitch. However, Sunday will mark the 25th meeting between Tech and the Jayhawks. Kansas holds a slight edge in the all-time series, but the Red Raiders have won six of the last seven matchups dating back to 2012.
The lone smudge in that streak came last season, when Tech dropped a 2-1 decision in Lawrence after surrendering a pair of penalty kicks in the first conference match of the year. Since 2012, the Red Raiders have posted five clean sheets in seven meetings with the Jayhawks, outscoring Kansas 10-3 over that stretch.
This weekend completes a four-match home stand for the Red Raiders, as Tech looks to continue its hot streak inside the confines of the John Walker Soccer Complex. In three matches in Lubbock this season, the Red Raiders have outscored their opponents, 8-0, for a 3-0-0 start to the home slate.
The most recent additions to that record came in a 1-0 victory over San Diego State on Sept. 15, followed by a 3-0 rout of Cal State-Northridge on Sept. 18, after a weather delay pushed the match from Sunday night to a Monday morning matinee. All four goals came from four different Red Raider scoring threats, as freshman forward Kirsten Davis recorded the lone tally against the Aztecs to begin the weekend. Fellow freshman forward Ally Griffin, sophomore midfielder Savanna Jones and sophomore forward Jade King found the back of the net against the Matadors to complete the perfect weekend at the Walker.
Tech's results improved the combined overall against the two programs to 5-0-0. It also put the Red Raiders at 7-2-0 through non-conference action, as Tech gets the opportunity to focus solely on the top RPI conference from 2016 over the next six weeks.
Last year, the Red Raiders put together a 2-6-0 record in league action, putting up wins against Iowa State (3-0) in the opening weekend and Oklahoma (1-0 – 2OT) to wrap the regular season. The final victory over OU helped catapult Tech into its fifth-straight NCAA Tournament bid. In each of the last five years, the Red Raiders secured at least seven non-conference wins for its resume, a figure Tech hit to make it six in-a-row with the win over Cal State-Northridge on Monday.
K-State enters Friday's matchup with nine different Wildcats registered with at least one goal this season. Brookelynn Entz leads the way for KSU with three goals and one assist in 2017, while Hannah Davis has served up four assists for the Wildcats. In between the pipes, Miranda Larkin has picked up 42 saves and allowed nine goals in nine matches for a 0.97 goals against average. She has also been a part of four clean sheets so far in 2017.
"This has to be the best first-year team ever assembled," Stone said on K-State. "First-year teams just get crushed in conference play for the most part and these girls aren't going to get crushed by anyone. The coaching staff has done a great job of turning some diamonds in the rough into players that are making it happen for them. They went out and got some players that a lot of people really wanted and got them to buy into their program.
"We know what that feels like. Ten years ago, that's what we were selling. They've been impressive and have some decent results, they're in every game and watching them on tape, they do not look like a first-year team. We know how tough it's going to be and we know we have to be ready."
The Jayhawks open the weekend having scored as many goals as they've given up at 15. Grace Hagan paces the squad on offense with five goals and three assists, while Sophie Maierhofer and Katie McClure both have posted multiple tallies this season at three and two each, respectively. Maddie Dobyns has started all 10 matches for Kansas, allowing 12 goals combined with 42 saves for a 1.23 GAA. They'll face TCU on Friday before heading to Lubbock.
Ally Griffin and Kirsten Davis have traded off the team-lead in goals this year, with Griffin holding the top spot heading into the match against the Wildcats at four goals. Davis sits at three tallies, while Jones has two, as Tech has totaled 13 goals this year. On the flip side, the Red Raider defense has been stellar this season, allowing just five goals as a veteran backline and strong goalkeeper play have produced six shutout victories in nine contests. Junior Carissa Christensen has put down 13 saves and a 4-1 record, while freshman Marissa Zucchetto has eight saves and a 3-1 mark, combining for a 0.55 goals against average.
The Red Raiders go back on the road after this weekend's matchup, squaring off with Texas in Austin on Sept. 29, at 7 p.m., on LHN. Tech will then return home to face TCU on Sunday, Oct. 1, at 1 p.m.
#Big12SOC begins Friday.
— Texas Tech Soccer (@TexasTechSoccer) September 21, 2017
Wear ?? & we'll see you at The Walker this weekend!#WreckEm pic.twitter.com/2w0T5SgaQd
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